The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-03-08


stand at his bedside unable to check the flow
He is not conscious of their grief, for he has
been in a state of coma all day. Friends pass in
and out of the silent house over which hangs tho
shadow of death, but the once great mind knows
nothing of the sympathy that is everywhere felt
for him in his last hours on earth He lies
propped up in bed, while his wife and children
fit in and out Of the room, never leaving him
for more than minute at time. As they look
at the sad ravages, made by his short illness. ine
his face. tears blind their eyes and for the time
being they cannot see the well-beloved features.
Nobody who knew Mr. Beecher before the apo
plectic fit seized him would recognize him now,
SO great has been the change since Saturday
morning. He has suffered terrible pain, which
has left its mark upon his face and distorted
his whole body. This, to the family, is a great
afHiction, for the dying man had always ex
pressed the wish that he might die suddenly and
be buried with the general appearance as
in life.
On the street in front of the house crowds
gathered to-day and anxiously watched the
drawn curtains in Mr. Beechers chamber, as il
they could tell them what was passing within.
They scanned the bulletins eagerly, and closely
questioned the policemen on duty in the vesti-
bule. They gathered on the sidewalk across the
street and on the fonr corners talking of the
man they loved so well. Ladies predominated
in the crowd, and many Of them stood for hours
on the other side of Hicks street, not mindful OF
the damp pavement Thousands of other ladies
passed the house in carriages and on foot, and
all either stopped to read the bulletins or ask
few questions Tears were in the eyes OF many
Of them, and they all gave sigh of relief when
they heard that the end was not yet.
Chief Usher Whitney, who has been connected
with Plymouth Church for nearly thirty years,
went in and remained q long time DR.. Jacobs.
chairman of the Jewish Ministers Association,
came down the steps shortly afterward. having
spent about an hour in the house. Il called to
offer my coincidence to the family he said; II
would like to haye-seen Mr.. Beecher, but that
was impossible The family tells me that IL is
not the Mr.. Beecher of old who is there. He is
dead and ali that is left is breathing piece Of
machinery"
Among the other callers were Congressman S.
Y. White, ex-Mayor Loew. C. H. Vorningen and
Rev. DR.. Lyman. None of them saw Mr..
Beecher.
Col ". e. Beecher came out at ii o'clock,
and dropped number of letters in the box on
the corner. To the reporters he said: Ny
father is slowly dying. There is no hope of his
recovery, and we are all trying to bear it as
bravey as we can. My mother has regained
her selfcontrol since she learned that the end
was inevitable. She is now trying to cheer up
and help us to bear our grief My brother Her
bert telegraphed from ort Seattle W. T.. this
End nc ahaut fafhar. He wanted
to know if he ought to start for home at once.
telegraphed him not to come, as he could not
get here in time. He could not be Of any use II
he did come and / would rather have him re-
member father as he was than to see him now.
He is terribly changed" and Colonel Beecher
walked slowly off, brushing away tear.
The astonishing vitality of the sick man is Q
cause of wonder all, and is the subject of gen.
eral conversation. How he can live long
through what would have killed most men is
puzzng. His life hangs by slender thread,
and yet it will not snap.
At ii o'clock Mr.. Augustus Stowe passed into
the house, and whom he out be said,
There is only one chance in million for him to
live, and | cannot understand how he has
vived so long. Mrs. Beecher told me that she
| thought her husband recognized her this morn
ing by squeezing her hand. She not certain.
| however, and he did not open his eyes move
his head or bodv" As he finished talking, Mrs.
! S. Y. White accompanied by Miss Daisy Beech.
| er daughter of H. b. Beeeher, drove up in car
riage and entered the house. Rev DR.. Fulton
paused in front of the house Ion. enough to read
the bulletin and then went away. The Rev.
| Samuel Scoville. MIR. Beerhers son-in law, came
| out and said that he did not think Mr.. Beecher
| would live through the day and night The Rev.
J. K Funk, Miss May Talmage and Mrs. Tasker
| Howard called and remained in the house several
hours. The Rev. S B. Halliday also called, and
told the reporters that he would hold services 10
Plymouth Church lecture-roo this evening.
| About 1915 peculiarlooking individual, with
! long, black hair, wearing black souch hat an
black clothes, shamb,ed slowly, with gait pc
| cularly his own, up the steps OF the house, and
| asked TO see Colonel Beecher. He looked more
like decayed Episcopal clergyman than any,
thing else. He informed the policeman at the
door that he was German mind reader. aid
! cane to offer his services to the family The
policeman consulted Colonel Beecher, and was
instructed to admit the man. He was accord
ingly admitted, and had twenty minutes con-
versation with Colonel Beecher and DR.. Searle
| When Dr. Searle left the house at o'clock he
/ said: s.The man said that he had come for The
| purpose of curing Mr.. Beeeher. and appeared
| confident that he could do He said that he
| understood that Mr.. Beecher had been given up
| by the doctors, but that he wanted 10 see him,
| and then he could tell whether he ccuid effect s
/ cure. We told him that had offers of SER
vices from prominent physicians all over ths
country but that it had been decided that Mr.
Beecher's was in the hands Of perfectly
competent physicians. / did not learn the mans
| no. but he was undoubtedly a crank
it 1:55 Gen. Horatio G. Kin and Moses
ach of Peekskl. called at the house and in
/, ired after Mr.. Beecber
| At Lao DIR. Searle said to the reporters that